Flush box mechanism



- Feb. 24, 1948. S E 2,436,679

FLUSH BOX MECHANI SM Filed June 21, 1944 2 Sheefs-Sheet l I nz'entor 625020.517 SP/GWGl/E,

Feb. 24, 1948. G. H. SPRAGUE FLUSH BOX MECHANISM Filed June 21, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lni'entor GEO/e05 7 45/ 2/4605,

Patented Feb. 24, 1948 FLUSH BOX- MECHANISM George l-lr'spra-gue, East Northport, N. Y., assignor of one-half to Lillian A. Moir, East Newport, N. Y.';' Lillian Moir Sprague, executrix of said George H. Sprague, deceased, ass'ignor to Lillian Moir .Snrague, Gommack, N. Y.

Application June '21, 1944, Serial No. 541,419

This invention relates to a flush box mechanism and more particularly to a mechanism adapted for use with the flush boxes of toilets.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of a flush box mechanism of improved and simplified construction embodying relatively few operating parts.

A further object is-the provision of an improved means for securing certainparts of such a mechanism in related assembly which maybereadiIy released to permit replacement of certain other parts without the necessity of disassembling the entire device.

A more specific object is the provision of an improved split clamp holding the operating rod of the flush mechanism in desired positions.

A still further object is the provision of an improved means of securing a ball valve "to an operating device in order to reduce the wear on such a valve to a minimum.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

Having reference now to the accompanying drawings wherein there is shown a preferred form of this inventive concept,

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a toilet flush box, certain parts thereof .being broken away and certain parts shown in section to show the positioning of the operating mechanisms .of the instant invention.

Figure 2 is a top elevational view of the toilet box cover of Figure '1, certain underlying parts being shown in dotted lines.

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of apo tion of the mechanism shown in Fi ure 1.

Figure 4., is a side sectional view through a portion of the ball valve mechanism comprising a part of the instant invention.

Fi ure 5 is a perspective view of a clamping dev ce comprising a detai of this invention.

Fi ure 6 is an enlarged. pe pective view of the lever mechanism shown in Figure l, and

F gure '7 is enlarged detail view of the detachable connection between certain operating elements of the structure.

Like reference numerals refer to l ke parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Having particular reference now to the drawings, F re 1 thereof. is designates a flush box for toilets. and may be constructed of any su table material. such as porcelain. Box In is provided with a cover or lid H of any suitable material such as porcelain or wood and is provided on its inner surface with a plurality of ext-ending lugs I 2 adapted to hold the cover in Flush box I!) is provided with the customary inlet pipe l3, outlet pipe l4, and overflow pipe l5. Secured to the underside of cover H is a mounting bracket is adapted to support a bellcrank lever generally indicated at [1. As best shown in Figure '6, lever I1 is comprised of an extending portion l8 terminating in a fiat end, a lug I9 extending upwardly therefrom and having an aperture 20 therethrough and an opposite end portion 2| extending atan angle with respect to portion l8, and provided with an aperture 22 adjacent the extremity thereof. As best shown in Figure 1, lever I1 is adapted to be mounted in bracket lt for pivotal movement and is secured in position as by a rivet or pin 23. Cover H has a suitable hole bored therethrough at a point adjacent 'fia-t end i3 of lever l'l, through which is passed a rod 25 having at its outer extremity a push button 26 and having positioned on its lower extremity, subsequent to its insertion in the hole, a collar 21 designed to preclude the withdrawal of the same from the hole. Details of this construction are best disclosed in Figure 3. As best shown in Figure '7, a hook 30 terminating in a loop 3| is secured in aperture 22 of portion 2| of lever l1. Hook 3!] is adapted detachably'toengage a loop 32 comprising the upper end of an operating rod 33. As best shown in Figure 4, the lower end v of rod 33 terminates in a threaded portion 34 and has threaded thereon an outside adjusting nut 35. Positioned beneath nut 35 is an outside washer 36, adapted to abut the upper surface of a conventional hollow rubber ball-type valve closure member 31. Also, positioned on end 34 of rod 33 but within ball valve closure '31 is a second or inside washer 38, adapted to engage the inner surface of valve closure 31 and secured in position by a second or inside clamping nut 39. The construction immediately above described materially strengthens the securing of valve closure 31 to rod 33 and reduces the possibility of tearing the relatively thinrubber of closure 31', In order to facilitate assembly and insertion of the clamping nut 39 and inside washer 38 an opening 31a is provided in the hollow ball valve 31 opposite the rod end 33.

A guide member and clamp for rod 33 is generally indicated at 40. -Guide member 4a is comprised of a one piece clamp formed of a double bent plate having a relatively large cylindrical portion 4!, adapted to be adjustably positioned up and down and clamped about the overflow pipe IE to limit the axial movement of the rod 33 with the valve 31, a pair of flat extending members 42 terminating in a split cylindrical portion 43, comprised of two semi-cylindrical portions formed at the ends of flat portions 42. Screws 44 having flat heads engage suitable threaded apertures in the twoflatportions 42 and serve to hold the guide member in clamped position on the pipe I3. Thus it will be seen that cylindrical portion 43 is adapted to surround and serve as a guide for rod 33 and that upon releasing of screws 44 from engagement with their associated threaded apertures, cylindrical portion 43 may be separated to permit removal of rod 33 therefrom for a purpose to be described hereinafter, without the necessity of removing the clamp as a unit from the overflow pipe.

From the foregoing the operation of the. device should now be readily understood by those skilled in the art. If it becomes necessary to re-, place valve closure member 37, which, it may be pointed out, is the portion of the device most subject to wear, the operation is as follows: Lid H is first raised a short distance from box 19 (such movement being permitted by the distance between the top of member 31 and member 40). ,1

laterally from cylindrical portion 43 of clamp 40. Rod 33 and associated member 31 are then removed from box I0 and nut 39 and washer 33 then removed from end 34 of rod 33 through the opening 31a. The rubber ball valve closure member 31 may then be removed from rod 33 and a new member substituted therefor, washer 38 and nut 39 then being replaced. The closure member and rod are then replaced in position and guide member 43 positioned thereabout and screws 44 tightened to hold the partsin related 1 assembly. Cover 1 l is then replaced but an opening of suificient size to permit the insertion of a hand is left between cover H and the top of box l0, and hook 30 reengaged with loop 32. Upon complete closure of cover I I, the operating mechanism is now in position for operation.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided a device embodying all the objects of this invention and many others including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance. It will also be seen that the construction herein disclosed provides a flush valve operating mechanism which is reliable in operation, sturdy and durable in construction, and comprised of a relatively small number of operating parts, the whole being so designed and arranged as to produce a minimum of strain and wear on the operating parts thereof, and to permit ready replacement of such parts as become worn or otherwise inoperative.

As many embodiments may be made of this 1. In a flush box having a tank, a discharge pipe therefrom, a fiush valve controlling said discharge pipe and a guide means for the stem of said flush valve, in combination, a removable cover for said tank and a flush valve operating mechanism supported by and removable with said cover, said mechanism comprising a lever pivoted intermediate its ends to the under surface of said cover, a detachable, swiveling connection between one end of said lever and said flush valve stem and an actuating push button extending through said cover and engaging the other end of said lever, said push button having an enlarged portion thereon preventing withdrawal of the same through said cover.

2. In a flush box having a tank, a discharge pipe therefrom, a flush valve controlling said discharge pipe and a guide means for the stem of said flush valve in combination, a removable cover for said tank and a flush valve operating mechanism supported by and removable with said cover, said mechanism comprising a lever pivoted intermediate its ends to the under surface of said cover, a detachable, swiveling connection between one end of said lever and said flush valve stem and an actuating push button extending through said cover and engaging the other end of said lever, said push button having an enlarged portion thereon preventing withdrawal of the same through said cover, said swiveling connection providing suflicient lost motion for raising said cover to effect attachment and disengagement of said connection with said stem.

GEORGE H. SPRAGUE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,120,836 Merewether Dec. 15, 1914 1,214,020 Douglas Jan. 30, 1917 1,225,278 Schulte May 8, 1917 1,239,903 Goetz Sept. 11, 1917 1,563,729 Dominguez Dec. 1, 1925 2,016,840 Schubert Oct. 8, 1935 2,098,687 Kinsfather Nov. 9, 1937 2,257,292 DeGarmo Sept. 30, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 192,800 Switzerland Nov. 16, 1937 

